essentialism Hear it!

essentialism Definition

es·sen·tial·ism (--iz′əm)

noun

Philos. a theory which stresses indispensable conceptual characteristics and relations of things as opposed to existence as particular experienced actuality

essentialism Related Forms
es·sen′·tial·ist noun
essentialism Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • strategic: For a definition and critique of strategic essentialism, see Spivak ( 1988 ).
  • cultural: The tendency toward authoritarian cultural essentialism is not restricted to the New Right.
  • psychological: In both cases, the refusal is part of a case made against psychological essentialism.
  • genetic: This, they claim, is evident in everything from discourses of genetic essentialism to the realities of ozone layer thinning.
  • authoritarian: The tendency toward authoritarian cultural essentialism is not restricted to the New Right.
  • ethnic: A rejection of ethnic essentialism, but still favoring a nation state.

Browse dictionary entries near essentialism

  1. ‹ essential oil
  2. ‹ essential
  3. ‹ Essene
  4. ‹ essence
  5. ‹ Essen
  6. ‹ esse
  7. ‹ essayistic
  8. ‹ essayist
  9. ‹ essay
  10. ‹ -ess
  1. essentiality ›
  2. essentialize ›
  3. essentially ›
  4. Essequibo ›
  5. Essex ›
  6. ESSID ›
  7. essonite ›
  8. est ›
  9. -est ›
  10. establish ›